Ryanair Will Stop Using a Staffing Company to Manage Its German Pilots

Christopher Jasper, Benjamin Katz and Tom Lavell, Bloomberg

- Mar 14, 2018 6:30 pm

Skift Take

Ryanair’s staffing model is unusual in the airline industry. It has saved the airline considerable money, but it’s hard to believe it lasted as long as it has. Pilots will almost certainly fare better as direct employees of the airline.

— Brian Sumers

Share

Tweet

Share

Post

Send

Ryanair Holdings Plc will offer direct employment to some German pilots currently working under contract, as a recruitment firm ends its services in the country for the discount carrier.

“Ryanair has now begun the process of offering these contractors direct employment” following U.K.-based McGinley Aviation’s decision to stop supplying it with pilots in Germany, the airline said in an email. McGinley said in a letter to the pilots obtained by Bloomberg that its work with them will end on Oct. 31, while Ryanair said the firm will continue serving the carrier in other countries.

Vereinigung Cockpit is aware of the McGinley letter, and the change to direct contracts is a welcome development, though tax implications need to be clarified, the union’s international relations officer James Phillips said by phone. McGinley Managing Director Elizabeth Cusack couldn’t be reached for comment.

Germany, where about half of Ryanair’s pilots are outside contractors, has remained a thorn in the carrier’s side as it has secured labor accords in markets including the U.K. and Ireland. Chief Executive Officer Michael O’Leary has been forced to drop a longstanding anti-union stance after staff gained bargaining power following a rostering mixup that led 20,000 flights to be scrapped.

This article was written by Christopher Jasper, Benjamin Katz and Tom Lavell from Bloomberg and was legally licensed through the NewsCred publisher network. Please direct all licensing questions to legal@newscred.com.

Serious about airlines? Subscribe to Skift Airline Weekly to get the strongest business insights in the world of commercial aviation